Pepper spray MP apologises for the ‘hardship’ caused by his act

The apology letter was sent on February 18th, the very day he sent his resignation to Speaker Meira Kumar.

(MP L Rajagopal, who used a pepper spray in the Lok Sabha, on Thursday. Photo: (PTI)

L Rajagopal, who quit Lok Sabha soon after his pepper spray attack, has tendered an apology to all MPs for the “hardship” they faced due to his action.

“I sincerely apologise to the hardship caused to you by my action on February 13th in the Lok Sabha. Whatever may be the circumstance and reason, I will not justify my action,” Rajagopal said in a letter.

The letter was sent on February 18th, the very day he sent his resignation as MP to Speaker Meira Kumar. She accepted the resignation the next day.

The expelled Congress leader from Seemandhra, however, said that he was “glad” that many of his colleague MPs understood the “cause for unity of Andhra Pradesh”.

“I never used United Andhra Pradesh issue for political gain… Even though I failed to keep the state united, I endeavour to bring peace, harmony and unity among all Telugu people,” the 50-year-old industrialist-politician said.

Unprecedented pandemonium had broken out in the House last week when Rajagopal, who was elected from Vijayawada, brought in a canister and sprayed pepper.

All political parties had demanded action against him and the government had said it would not oppose any decision taken by the Speaker.

His resignation came after the Speaker asked the Committee of Privileges of Lok Sabha, which has punitive powers, to go into the incident which she termed as a “blot” on democracy.

He was expelled from Congress along with five MPs from Seemandhra region for moving a non-confidence motion against the UPA government.